Biography

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Turner was born in New York, New York. He earned a B.A. from St. John's University (New York).[3]

Career

Turner attended public high schools in Queens and enlisted in the Army upon graduation. After serving in the military he worked his way through college earning a B.A. in history from St. John's University. He started his first media company, Orbis Communications, in 1984 and continued serving in leadership positions, including Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, for some of the largest media entertainment companies in the country until his retirement in 2003.[4]

Issues

Specific votes

Fiscal Cliff

Turner voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was 1 of 85 Republicans that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.[9]

Long and Maragos took the more conservative stance compared to Turner. For example, Turner did not take a "no tax increases" pledge along with the other two. Turner said he's more ready to compromise in order to get things accomplished in Washington.[1] Maragos has also criticized his opponents for not seeking to repeal New York's legalization of same-sex marriage.[1]

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani endorsed Turner.[1] Giuliani said Turner's special election victory last year to succeed Anthony Weiner was "an unbelievable shot."[11]

Polls had Turner and Long out ahead of Maragos, but also showed none of the three having very good chances of beating Gillibrand[12] in the strongly Democratic state of New York.[13]

Analysis

Congressional staff salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Turner paid his congressional staff a total of $218,386 in 2011. Overall, New York ranked 28th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[14]

Staff bonuses

According to an analysis by CNN, Turner was one of nearly 25 percent of House members who gave their staff bonuses in 2012. Turner's staff was given an apparent $20,400.00 in bonus money.[15]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Turner's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $5,301,319 to $5,479,316. That averages to $5,390,317, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican House members in 2011 of $7,859,232.[16]

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Turner's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $0 which is lower than the average net worth of Republicans in 2010 of $7,561,133.[17]

Voting with party

November 2011

Bob Turner voted with the Republican Party 98.2 percent of the time, which ranked 3rd among the 242 House Republican members as of December 2011.[18]

Personal

Turner is a lifelong resident of the 9th District of New York. He was raised in Woodhaven as the eldest of three sons, and raised his own family, with Peggy, his wife of 46 years, in Richmond Hill.

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